Toilet draping

ABSTRACT

A toilet draping is formed by folding a plastic bag in half lengthwise and cutting a suitably shaped and sized opening in a medial location of the bag. In another aspect of the invention, a keyhole-shaped opening is formed in an impervious sheet to form a toilet draping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a disposable toilet draping which enables the hygienic use of public toilets. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toilet draping that is easily prepared by the user at home from a commonly-available plastic bag.

The necessities of life expose persons away from home to contaminants when using public rest rooms. Public awareness regarding communicable diseases has heightened in recent years, and public washrooms in particular have been identified by the public as “high risk” areas.

Paper seat covers have been developed for use with conventional toilet seats to isolate a person from foreign materials and contaminants. These covers are generally flat, oval-shaped, thin paper products that are adapted to rest on top of the toilet seats. It is estimated, however, that only a small percentage of public restroom have such covers available, and even when they are, there are numerous drawbacks to paper seat covers.

First, paper toilet seat covers do not have draping structure to shield body parts from the outside of the toilet seat, the structure behind the seat, and the bowl below, thereby exposing the person directly to foreign materials and contaminants below and behind the seat and on the bowl. Second, edges of the public toilet seat may be exposed by shifting or tearing of the cover. Paper covers tear easily, and in addition any ventilation or air movement tends to dislodge the covers immediately after they have been placed on seats, resulting in imperfect covering.

Thus, there exists a need for a toilet cover that is more in the form of a draping to cover the seat and structure below and behind the seat. The cover should be made of a material more substantial than paper. The seat cover should be easily preparable by the user ahead of time in case its need becomes apparent away from home and with little notice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A toilet draping is formed from a plastic film sheet by cutting a suitably shaped opening in approximately the center of the sheet. Preferably the sheet is a commonly available 13-gallon plastic bag, and the draping may be easily made by folding the bag in half lengthwise before cutting a specifically-shaped opening located in a preferred location on the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toilet draping of the present invention deployed on a “home” type toilet;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toilet draping of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the preferred shape of opening; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toilet draping deployed on a “public” type toilet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to initially to FIGS. 1-3, where like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts, a toilet draping 10 is deployed on a “home” type toilet 12 characterized by a bowl 14 below the seat and a tank 16 and lid 18 behind the seat. As can be seen, an opening 20 is strategically placed and the draping 10 is sized to extend almost to the floor.

Draping 10 consists of a main body 30 formed in the shape of a thin sheet. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, main body 30 is a flattened 13-gallon polyethylene bag 31, the bag being two plastic films joined at one end 32 and at two sides 34,36 connected to the end 32 to form a double-walled, flat, rectangular structure with an open end 38 connected to the sides 34,36 opposite the closed end 32. In one example of the invention, the bag has a length dimension L₁ of about 37 inches and a width dimension W₁ of about 30 inches.

Opening 20 is cut through the bag 31 in a medial location of the bag 31. The opening 20 is symmetrical about the length dimension L of the bag and keyhole shaped, as shown in the Figures.

More specifically to the keyhole shape, the opening has a large portion 50 and a small portion 52 joined by two transition portions 54,56. The small portion 52 of the opening is hemi-circular with a diameter of about 2.25 inches between two ends 58,60.

One of the transition portions 54 extends from one end 58 of the small portion 52 and the other transition portion 56 extends from the other end 60 of the small portion 52. The transition portions 54,56 diverge outwardly from the ends 58,60 of the small portion to shoulders 62,64 of the large portion 50. Shoulders 62,64 define a widest dimension W₂ of the opening of about 4 inches.

The shoulders 62,64 of the large portion 50 are semi-circular and extend from the transition portions 54,56 to linear elements 66,68 of the large portion 50. One linear element 66 is joined to one of the shoulders 62 and the other linear element 68 is joined to the other shoulder 64. The linear elements 66,68 converge to a rounded apex 70 of the large portion 50.

A center 72 of the apex 70 and a center 74 of the small portion 52 define the longest dimension L₂ of the opening of about 6.25 inches.

The medial location of the bag 31 for the opening 20 is defined by a dimension D₁ from an end 38 of the bag 31 to the center 72 of the apex 70 of about 12 inches and a dimension D₂ from the other end of the bag to the center 74 of the small portion 52 of about 18.5 inches. The medial location is further defined by a dimension D₃ from each side 34,36 of the bag 31 to the nearest one of the shoulders 62,64 of about 13.75 inches.

FIG. 4 illustrates the draping 10 deployed on a “public” type toilet 80 characterized by piping 82 behind the seat.

In operation, the draping 10 is substantially wider and longer than any toilet cover presently known, such that protection from all parts of the toilet is provided to the user. A plastic film draping is superior to all paper covers in use. Preparation of the draping can be easily done by the user, or in the case of a child, a parent of the user, by cutting a suitably shaped and sized opening 20 in a medial location of a plastic sheet. The plastic sheet item most commonly available to consumers is a polyethylene trash can liner or bag, with a 13 gallon size having relatively standardized 30 by 37 inch dimensions, being ideal. The bag is simply folded in half lengthwise, and the opening cut into the folded edge to form a symmetrical opening along the lengthwise dimension. The draping, after being cut ahead of time, folds up compactly for storage in a purse or pocket prior to use, and it is convenient to have a supply of several drapings on one's person. After use, the draping is easily disposable, with the cost of a bag being minimal enough to permit economical one-time usage.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a particular toilet draping, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A toilet draping, comprising: a main body formed in the shape of a thin sheet; an opening cut through the main body in a medial location of the main body; the opening being symmetrical about the length dimension of the main body and keyhole shaped; and the opening having a large portion and a small portion joined by two transition portions.
 2. The toilet draping of claim 1 with the main body being a flattened bag, the bag being two plastic films joined at one end and at two sides connected to the end to form a double-walled, flat, rectangular structure with an open end connected to the sides opposite the closed end.
 3. The toilet draping of claim 2 with the bag being a 13-gallon polyethylene bag.
 4. The toilet draping of claim 2 with the bag having a length dimension of about 37 inches and a width dimension of about 30 inches.
 5. The toilet draping of claim 1, with the small portion of the opening being hemi-circular with a diameter of about 2.25 inches between two ends; one of the transition portions extending from one end of the small portion and the other transition portion extending from the other end of the small portion, the transition portions diverging outwardly from the ends of the small portion to shoulders of the large portion, with the shoulders defining a widest dimension of the opening of about 4 inches; the shoulders of the large portion being semi-circular and extending from the transition portions to linear elements of the large portion, one linear element joined to one of the shoulders and the other linear element joined to the other shoulder, with the linear elements converging to a rounded apex of the large portion; a center of the apex and a center of the small portion defining the longest dimension of the opening of about 6.25 inches; and the medial location of the bag for the opening being defined by a dimension from an end of the bag to the center of the apex of about 12 inches and a dimension from the other end of the bag to the center of the small portion of about 18.5 inches, and by a dimension from each side of the bag to the nearest one of the shoulders of about 13.75 inches.
 6. A toilet draping, comprising: a main body formed in the shape of a thin sheet; an opening cut through the main body in a medial location of the main body; the opening being symmetrical about the length dimension of the main body; and with the main body being a flattened bag, the bag being two plastic films joined at one end and at two sides connected to the end to form a double-walled, flat, rectangular structure with an open end connected to the sides opposite the closed end.
 7. The toilet draping of claim 6, with the bag being a 13-gallon polyethylene bag.
 8. The toilet draping of claim 6 with the bag having a length dimension of about 37 inches and a width dimension of about 30 inches.
 9. A toilet draping, comprising: a main body formed in the shape of a thin sheet; the main body being a flattened 13-gallon polyethylene bag, the bag being two plastic films joined at one end and at two sides connected to the end to form a double-walled, flat, rectangular structure with an open end connected to the sides opposite the closed end; the bag having a length dimension of about 37 inches and a width dimension of about 30 inches; an opening cut through the bag in a medial location of the bag; the opening being symmetrical about the length dimension of the bag and keyhole shaped; the opening having a large portion and a small portion joined by two transition portions; the small portion of the opening being hemi-circular with a diameter of about 2.25 inches between two ends; one of the transition portions extending from one end of the small portion and the other transition portion extending from the other end of the small portion, the transition portions diverging outwardly from the ends of the small portion to shoulders of the large portion, with the shoulders defining a widest dimension of the opening of about 4 inches; the shoulders of the large portion being semi-circular and extending from the transition portions to linear elements of the large portion, one linear element joined to one of the shoulders and the other linear element joined to the other shoulder, with the linear elements converging to a rounded apex of the large portion; a center of the apex and a center of the small portion defining the longest dimension of the opening of about 6.25 inches; and the medial location of the bag for the opening being defined by a dimension from an end of the bag to the center of the apex of about 12 inches and a dimension from the other end of the bag to the center of the small portion of about 18.5 inches, and by a dimension from each side of the bag to the nearest one of the shoulders of about 13.75 inches. 